About Oregon Tradeswomen
Donor Spotlight: Victoria K. by Dennise M. Kowalczyk
I reached out to Victoria when she renewed her sustaining membership because I saw this comment on her donation:
“My daughter, Vanessa, is a recent graduate of the Pathways program. She was given a great opportunity to learn a trade and is looking forward to an apprenticeship in iron working. OTI provides a career opportunity to women that might not otherwise be possible. I saw her develop improved self-confidence and teamwork with her cohorts.”
The above photo was taken at Vanessa’s graduation celebration that I also had the opportunity to attend. It was my first experience in participating in Oregon Tradeswomen’s celebration of our training program participant’s success in graduating from our Trade and Apprenticeship Career Class. The event included stories, laughter, tears, and promises of established friendships.
Victoria began investing in OTI when her daughter, Vanessa, began investing in her own, new career path as a TAC Class student. When the session was over, Victoria renewed her support so OTI can prepare even more women in their pursuit of a living wage career as a tradeswoman and Vanessa gave back by donating a computer so OTI can help find those women work.
Join Victoria, Vanessa and all the supporters of Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. by making a donation today to ensure a bright future for women in the Portland area. It takes all of us to support these women as they embark on this new journey of independence. With your gift, you are helping women earn a living that will allow them to build a life for themselves and their loved ones. Women who not only live here, but fulfill their dreams like Vanessa did in finding a career that she loves and in which she thrives.
Thank you!
Dennise M. Kowalczyk – Development Director
9th Annual Tradeswomen Leadership Institute
Where is the best place in Oregon to get together with other tradeswomen? Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.’s annual Tradeswomen Leadership Institute (TLI) of course!! This year the event will be Friday September 25 and Saturday September 26. Some of you already know all about this, so if you are eager to register, you can do so now!
We start out on Friday night with a celebration for tradeswomen, which includes a social hour and a special event: Tradeswomen Stories! Five tradeswomen will be on stage telling their true stories live. If you register for TLI you automatically get one ticket free but you are encouraged to bring friends and family! Additional tickets are for sale for $15.
The Tradeswomen Leadership Institute facilitates the leadership development, advocacy skills, and unity among all women (union, open shop, self-employed and otherwise) working in the building, construction, mechanical and utility trades. 2015 will mark the 9th annual Tradeswomen Leadership Institute, planned by Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI), the University of Oregon’s Labor Education Research Center (LERC), and a dedicated committee of tradeswomen volunteers. This year committee members were: Barbara Byrd, Irais Gandarilla, Anjeanette Brown, Leigh Jenkins, Maddie Ettlin, Sarah Heidler, Lori Baumann, Bea Jenkins, Kadence Jimenez, Jodi Tillinghast, and Becki Yanosko. We are so grateful for all of the time they put into planning and volunteering for this event!
This year we will have 8 workshops (instead of the normal 9). We did this to focus on an extended workshop about mentorship – both how to be a mentor and how to find a mentor. It is going to be a great topic! We also have workshops on running for office, social justice, and a return from Innovative Changes to teach Financial planning.
We encourage tradeswomen to ask their employers or unions to send them to this great event. The cost is $55 with a $10 discount for all OTI members. We are more than happy to invoice your company or union, just make sure you ask them first! If you need more support with that process, Tiffany would be happy to help.
We also want to be supportive of those who are not being sponsored and maybe be new to work or perhaps currently underemployed. We do offer scholarships, just tell us you are interested in your registration, and we will be in touch! For those with kids, we have you covered too! We are offering $40 per child scholarships to help with childcare costs. This is a first come, first served scholarship with limited spots so register early!
We look forward to seeing you there!
Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America
(Pictured from the left: Connie Ashbrook, Miriam Frank, Madelyn Elder)
We frequently find our dear Executive Director Connie Ashbrook out and about in the media – TV Interviews and Magazine Articles. We also know that the incredible Madelyn Elder is Northwest famous in the labor community, only recently stepping down as president of CWA before starting work full time for OTI as our Chief Financial Officer (We are so lucky!). Rarely do we find both of these incredible women featured in one place! Yet, this is exactly what you get in Miriam Frank’s Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America.
On Thursday August 6, the Q Center hosted Frank for a reading from the book. To appeal to her audience, she shared quotes and stories from Portland area activists. During a passage featuring Elder, there was laughter as she realized everything (including a small bit of scandal!) that she had shared during the interview. It was at this time that the audience discovered that Elder and Ashbrook had been interviewed in 1995 – making their quotes deliciously new to them as well! Frank, clearly fond of many of the attendees, casually interacted with the audience and invited them to comment and build on stories they had shared for the book – creating an atmosphere of community and camaraderie.
If you want a little taste right now, here are a couple of short quotes:
“Connie Ashbrook came out at work in the early 1990s. The ultraconservative Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) proposed Measure 9 (1992) … to mandate the firing of LGBT workers…Although the elevator construction industry was nobody’s target, Ashbrook came out at work merely by displaying a “No on 9″ bumper sticker on her lunch box. She told her union business agent that the measure would harm her personally.” (pg. 27)
“I don’t think the New York guys were interested in the gay thing at all but they were pissed at the local leadership, and they saw it as a union democracy issue. Then there were two gay men who came, telephone operators. And then some white male installers showed up, guys from Seattle, with their crew cuts. They were going, “Where’s the gays?” And there I am with my little hand raised. It was frightening to get up and talk about gay rights.” (Elder, pg 88)
For those of us who advocate for Queer Rights and Workers’ Rights OR those who just want to know what role Labor Advocates played in the Queer Movement – this book is for you. And Miriam Frank wrote this as oral histories, so you have a chance to get to know advocates who pushed the movement forward. Plus, it is a great way to get to know both Connie and Madelyn a little better – from their own voices 20 years ago. If you buy the book from Amazon, remember that you can do a little good for OTI at the same time, and support us with Amazon Smile.
Meet OTI Graduate, Catherine Rehm
OTI received a wonderful email from Catherine updating us on her job and how well life was progressing for her, and we were so inspired, we asked her to share a little more about her OTI experience. Thank you, Catherine, and congratulations on finding such a rewarding new path!
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I’d heard about Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) some years ago, maybe in 2010. At that time, I was working as a bartender in the morning 7:00 am to 2:30 pm. It was a well-known dive bar near the Willamette so we had lots of longshoremen and one woman who always come in. They were really down to earth and great tippers and the subject of OTI came up randomly. I looked in to it at the time, but didn’t feel I could commit to the schedule of OTI’s program. But the idea was stored away for future reference.
I had sort of been thinking about a career in the trades before I heard about OTI’s program. I was aware of the income potential – it definitely piqued my curiosity – but when I followed the thought through to the logical outcome – and considering my background and experience – I didn’t see a way forward for myself at that time.
Just before I actually started OTI’s Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC), I was trying to make the best of a challenging and low-paying job. I was also suffering through finishing and paying for my college degree and coming to terms with the fact that even getting my diploma wasn’t going to really help me reach my goals professionally in the science world.
The TAC Class was physically challenging. I liked building stuff and learning about different tools. It opened my eyes to a lot of things I hadn’t thought about before: the construction of stuff; how things are put together.
“…OTI fostered an environment of growth and so I found a lot of strengths I didn’t necessarily realize I had within me…”
It was inspirational for me too. Construction skills are widely applicable and problem solving skills are often necessary. It was somewhat like a boot camp. I had my fair share of challenges with interpersonal stuff with some of the other personalities, but OTI fostered an environment of growth and so I found a lot of strengths I didn’t necessarily realize I had within me; and I plugged through. Plus, I had some really awesome positive cohorts slugging through their own stuff at my side and it helped ease growing pains. Simply put though, the Neel sisters and Donna are my true heroes at OTI. Plus a shout out to their supporters.
I landed my interview with my current employer the day after I graduated from OTI and I was hired! I am now a welder/fitter. I love it. I want to continue down this path and I’m seeking to advance my career in this field, perhaps as a certified welding inspector. My employer has programs in place to supplement the cost of additional education and classes/workshops pertaining to knowledge and skill enhancement within my field. Being an OTI alumni totally opened this door and gave me a “solid in” on getting the job.
“Graduating has built a confidence in me and a belief that I can thrive. Not just plod along, but excel. “
There’s a sisterhood and a camaraderie between OTI alums as well as other women in the trades. There aren’t that many of us and we realize that it’s good to have each-others’ backs…and bring others in. Graduating has built a confidence in me and a belief that I can thrive. Not just plod along, but excel. OTI helped me find a strength that I didn’t really see in myself before; they gave me permission to be a bad-ass; to bring out my potential, and to really shine.
I’m now making more money than I’ve ever made before. My partner helped support me getting through the program and now I’m able to do that in turn for him as he looks to reinvent himself. I have a career, where I didn’t before, in a field I would have never imagined myself in but that suits me better than anything I could have imagined. I get to use my problem-solving skills, my high energy level, intellect, people skills, kindness and attention to detail and there are many opportunities for advancement in this field. I actually love going to work! Oh, and I don’t need a gym membership! I’m totally ripped now just from working! It’s putting to use my aptitude for navigating the male-dominated field that I’m in. With confidence, individuality and security.
My new career is not without challenges, but finding an environment where you can be your best self that best suits your skill set is what you should aim for. (Read up on wolves. Pack mentality. The Yin and the Yang too if you want.) If you’ve grown up with brothers, then you know how it is. They’re going to tease you to death. But pretty much to test your mettle. They’re going to be dudes. They’re going to be quiet and standoffish until they get a baseline of trust….literally…you’re not making sudden movements. A little bit of levity goes a long way with the boys. Notice their efforts too. There is a subtlety between playfulness and sniping. There’s a time to shrug it off and a time to take a stand. And if you must take a stand, always go through proper channels. Make sure your “sh*t don’t stink” and bring your BEST game because they’re ALL watching you!!!
OTI’s Executive Director and Board Chair on Community Hotline!
Thank you to Monica Weitzel at Community Hotline for hosting Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.’s Executive Director, Connie Ashbrook and Board Chair, Irais Gandarilla on the show May 13th!
MANUFACTURING ROUNDTABLE EVENT
Overview
The manufacturing industry is projected to need to replace more than 30,000 workers in the next decade, and increasing diversity within the industry is critical to ensure companies have access to the skilled, talented labor required for this important sector of our local economy. Manufacturing in Portland is comprised of more than 107,000 jobs, making up 11% of Portland’s total workforce. In Oregon, overall, 26% of our GDP comes from manufacturing.
On Wednesday, April 22nd, Bank of America and Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. convened a group of 22 manufacturing industry executives to introduce them to OTI’s forthcoming Women in Metals & Manufacturing program and to learn from them what they are looking for in an entry level worker.
During the 90 minute discussion, OTI learned firsthand from representatives from local manufacturing firms about 4 broad buckets of work to address prior to launching the new Women in Metals & Manufacturing program:
1) Input on the curriculum & framework of this new manufacturing program
2) Ideas about how to recruit for the program, create awareness, and market the program
3) How local manufacturing employers can be a part of the program with things like site visits, guest speakers & hands-on training opportunities,
4) How to facilitate connections to women role-models who are successful in their manufacturing careers
Oregon Tradeswomen also learned more about what skills are necessary for entry level employment in the industry and career advancement, and overwhelmingly, those industry representatives echoed the following skills:
- Mechanical aptitude
- Safety minded
- Ability to learn and apply learning
- Keen attention to detail
- Great attitude / Enthusiastic
- Teamwork Oriented
- Respectful
- Driven
The Structure of the Women in Metals & Manufacturing program:
The Women in Metals & Manufacturing program will consist of two parts:
- A one day, hands-on orientation session which introduces women to metals and manufacturing careers, pathways into these careers, and a hands-on activity designed to allow women to experience activities common in manufacturing jobs in order for participants to assess their level of interest and/or their ability to keep pace with the demands of a manufacturing career.
- A two-week program modeled on Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.’s nationally recognized
pre-apprenticeship program, Women in Metals & Manufacturing will offer:- Education and training in shop math
- Blueprint reading
- Worksite expectations
- Developing a manufacturing resume
- Hands-on training activities
- Mentoring from women who are successful in a manufacturing career
- Field trips to local manufacturing companies
- Hands-on training in workshop safety and the safe operation of manual/computerized machines and precision tools
- Graduates will receive job placement assistance and vocational case management services upon program completion.
Timeline:
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.’s program staff will be distilling the feedback we received at this roundtable to help inform the curriculum of our Women in Metals & Manufacturing program. The new program is slated to launch in August 2015 with an orientation, and then the 2 week intensive training will be offered in early September.
Input Survey:
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. welcomes additional feedback from the manufacturing industry to help inform our forthcoming program. If you would like to contribute, please download our survey and return it to:
Dennise M. Kowalczyk
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
3934 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Ste.# 101
Portland OR 97212
Guest Blog: Shaley Howard
Shaley Howard is a tireless supporter of Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.. She has immense creativity, amazing energy, and she recently embarked on a little campaign to raise awareness and support for our mission. So…. we asked Shaley to contribute a guest blog post to share more about her generous efforts. We hope you enjoy Shaley’s inspiring words and these wonderful images.
Thank you, Shaley!
Why I Support Oregon Tradeswomen
Oregon Tradeswomen (OTI) is hands down one of my favorite non-profit organizations of all time! As a woman and self identified butch lesbian, I personally have found myself marginalized throughout my lifetime. And whether it’s some form of sexual discrimination or homophobia, I’m familiar with living in an intolerant, often ignorant world that tries to dictate what a woman’s role should be both personally and professionally. Luckily I was raised by a strong, intelligent, professional mother, four obnoxiously assertive and opinionated sisters and am surrounded daily by loads of powerful and strong-minded female friends. So the idea that any woman is pre-assigned a particular role or vocation in the world is asinine to me – and OTI.
I first learned about OTI when my friend Amy James Neel began teaching there years ago. I honestly had never heard of OTI before she started there, but the more I learned about the organization, the more I loved it. An all female run organization that brings in women from all walks of life, teaches them skills in the trades and then find them living wage jobs – that’s huge. I also know how important it is for children to have positive, strong and working parents as role models. OTI gives women the ability to obtain high wage paying jobs in the trades, enables them to provide for their families and show their kids that a woman can do anything a man can do. If we want to fight poverty, racism and sexism and to teach women skills that are applicable to the world we live in and give them above average living wages – then give them a support system like OTI has in place and make sure they are able to get and keep jobs.
As someone who doesn’t actually work at OTI yet whole-heartedly supports them, the best thing I can do is help raise awareness about what they offer to women and our community. Over the years I’ve tried to come up with creative ideas – anything from making my birthday a big OTI fundraiser to volunteering at their Women in the Trades Fair to writing blogs about OTI for PQ Monthly. I’ve also brought in coffee, cupcakes and other goodies for the hardworking women that work there – if anyone deserves the occasional treat it’s these women.
My latest idea came when I was lucky enough to be selected to be on a Timbers billboard for the Portland Timbers Football Club. I thought since the image is me looking all super tough and warrior like, what better way to shout to the world who the REAL strong warriors are – the women of OTI. So I put a challenge out to anyone and everyone who took a selfie in front of my billboard, posted it and donated to OTI – I would in turn donate $5 myself. And it seems to be working! Not only are we raising some money for OTI but perhaps more importantly we’re spreading the word about all the amazing things OTI does. Hopefully the next time I’m randomly talking about OTI I won’t get the question – what is OTI?
If anyone wants to take the Timbers billboard selfie challenge it’s located at Sandy and Burnside and NE 12th.
I cannot thank all the women of OTI enough for all you do for women and our community. Go on with your badass warrior selves and change the world!
Wells Fargo Awards Grant to OTI
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. is pleased to announce a $2,500 grant awarded by Wells Fargo for our Pathways to Success program.
With a focus on apprenticeship, the Pathways to Success program offers the Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC). It is a 7-week, pre-apprenticeship training class that helps women prepare for a high skill, high wage career in construction.
Upon graduation, OTI career counselors assist TACC graduates with their job search and application to apprenticeship training programs. OTI career counselors also provide individualized employment counseling throughout the entire course of the graduate’s trades career.
Learn more about our TAC Class or sign up for an information session about the class, the first step to enrollment in the program.
OTI thanks Wells Fargo for its support of our program!
In Kind Donations Make a World of Difference
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. relies on the support of community on a number of levels. We welcome financial support from donors, private foundation, government granting entities and private business.
Thank You!
We also receive generous gifts in the form of goods and services from local businesses and community based organizations like Atomic Direct and The Rebuilding Center.
Atomic Direct donated tools and miscellaneous gear for our recent Social Hour Tool & Gear Swap. The towels, assorted hand tools, drill kits and other gear were very popular with the tradeswomen who attended the event. Atomic Direct builds brand awareness for a variety of clients using direct response television and is based in Portland. The company was also one of our partners in last year’s Give!Guide campaign.
OTI has been working with The ReBuilding Center on N. Mississippi for quite some time and we recently returned to the center seeking 80 feet of CVG material for a project in our office. The center came through with a generous donation so our Pathways training program can now finish a project building out a mezzanine here at our office.
The ReBuilding Center, a project of Our United Villages, is a vibrant resource working to strengthen the environmental, economic, and social fabric of local communities. The center includes DeConstruction Services, a sustainable alternative to conventional demolition, and will soon be launching ReFind Education, featuring workshops and classes on how to safely and creatively work with used building materials. They also offer a free pick-up service, purposeful volunteer opportunities, and donations of used building materials for community projects.
OTI thanks Atomic Direct and The ReBuilding Center for their generosity. If you are interested in our in kind donations program as a method of supporting OTI’s mission, please send an email to dennise@tradeswomen.net.
Thank you, Bank of America!
Women in Metals and Manufacturing
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has named Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) as a 2015 Neighborhood Builder! OTI is being recognized for our efforts in workforce development. The Neighborhood Builders is currently marking its 11th year as the largest investment in nonprofit leadership development and organizational longevity. Locally, through Neighborhood Builders, Bank of America has invested $3.8 million and supported 38 emerging leaders at 19 Portland-area nonprofit organizations.
With the help of this funding from Bank of America, OTI will add a manufacturing workforce development program to help women and girls learn about, prepare for, and enter manufacturing careers. The program will build upon our successful pre-apprenticeship program that prepares 80 women a year for industry careers and educates more than 1,200 girls annually about their future opportunities in the trades. OTI will work with a variety of manufacturing industry partners to adopt or create a manufacturing-focused curriculum to prepare women for successful manufacturing careers.
Two-thirds of the manufacturing sector’s jobs require less than an associate’s degree. Jobs such as welder, machinist, millwright, computer-controlled machine operator, inspector, production and warehouse worker are all projected to have a high number of openings in the next few years. In fact, the manufacturing industry in the Portland metro area alone boasts more than 87,000 jobs with a payroll close to $7 million.